FOSSIL FUELS IIFOSSIL FUELS IINATURAL GAS NATURAL GAS

Mixture of light Mixture of light hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons, mostly Methane, mostly Methane, CHCH44..

In its natural state it has no color or In its natural state it has no color or odor.odor.

The odor comes from a chemical called The odor comes from a chemical called mercaptan, which gives natural gas that mercaptan, which gives natural gas that funny sulfur-like or rotten egg odor. funny sulfur-like or rotten egg odor.

Traditionally a seasonal fuel – used for Traditionally a seasonal fuel – used for heating in winter.heating in winter.

Increasing use for electrical generation.Increasing use for electrical generation.

Burning of Natural GasBurning of Natural Gas

Mostly methaneMostly methane

2CH2CH44 + 2O + 2O22 CO CO2 2 + 2H+ 2H22O + energyO + energy

Much Cleaner burning than oil or Much Cleaner burning than oil or coal.coal.

No sulfur dioxideNo sulfur dioxide No mercury emissions. No mercury emissions. Low particulate emissions.Low particulate emissions. 50% less CO50% less CO22 emissions than oil or emissions than oil or

coal.coal. Methane is a greenhouse gasMethane is a greenhouse gas

Formed by same basic processes as oil.Formed by same basic processes as oil. Can be found alone in reservoirs (non-Can be found alone in reservoirs (non-

associated gas) or in the same associated gas) or in the same reservoirs as crude oil (associated reservoirs as crude oil (associated gas).gas).

Also can be found in coal beds. (more Also can be found in coal beds. (more later)later)

Much of what we know about finding Much of what we know about finding reserves we learned from searching for reserves we learned from searching for oil.oil.

Natural gas is used Natural gas is used

1.1. Year-around Year-around

2.2. SeasonallySeasonally

3.3. Primarily for Primarily for electrical electrical generationgeneration

4.4. Mostly for Mostly for transportationtransportation

US Oil & Gas LocationsUS Oil & Gas Locations

Oil & gas locations tend to Oil & gas locations tend to overlapoverlap

1 2

50%50%1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

Same geologic formations/locations Same geologic formations/locations as oilas oil

The first well was drilled in 1821.The first well was drilled in 1821. Before the industry could expand, we Before the industry could expand, we

had to build a pipeline system to had to build a pipeline system to deliver the gas to customers.deliver the gas to customers.

After WWII, a high pressure pipeline After WWII, a high pressure pipeline networks was constructed to serve networks was constructed to serve the entire US. (over 1,000,000 miles the entire US. (over 1,000,000 miles of pipe.)of pipe.)

US Oil & Gas LocationsUS Oil & Gas Locations

Natural Gas PipelineNatural Gas Pipeline

Natural Gas PipelineNatural Gas Pipeline

Natural Gas PipelineNatural Gas Pipeline

ExplorationExploration

Much of what we know comes from Much of what we know comes from searching for oil.searching for oil.

Possible Deep earth mechanism for Possible Deep earth mechanism for production. Could signify a large production. Could signify a large (but deep) supply.(but deep) supply.

Potential to generate methane from Potential to generate methane from biological processes.biological processes.

Other Sources of Natural Other Sources of Natural GasGas

Argentine researchers discovered methane from cows accounts for more than 30 per cent of the country's total greenhouse emissions.

StorageStorage

StorageStorage

Depleted natural gas or oil fields 86%Depleted natural gas or oil fields 86% Aquifers 10%Aquifers 10% Salt caverns 4%Salt caverns 4%

World Natural Gas Reserves World Natural Gas Reserves 20082008

US & World Gas US & World Gas Reserves and Production Reserves and Production

20052005

Who are the largest producers Who are the largest producers of natural gas?of natural gas?

1.1. China, India, China, India, MalaysiaMalaysia

2.2. Russia, US, IranRussia, US, Iran

3.3. Iran, Venezuela Iran, Venezuela AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

Other Sources of Natural Other Sources of Natural GasGas

Argentine researchers discovered methane from cows accounts for more than 30 per cent of the country's total greenhouse emissions.

Coal Bed MethaneCoal Bed Methane

CBM extraction CBM extraction involves pumping involves pumping large volumes of large volumes of water from coal water from coal seams in order to seams in order to release water release water pressure that traps pressure that traps gas within the coal.gas within the coal.

Very inexpensive Very inexpensive to develop.to develop.

CBM accounts for 10% of all domestic natural gas reserves and,

In 2004, CBM accounted for nine percent of U.S. dry gas production. 

The Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming has become a major supplier of coal bed methane. 

Since 2001, CBM production in the Basin has increased 200 percent to 332 billion cubic feet and now comprises almost 20 percent of U.S. annual CBM production. 

Environmental Problems with Environmental Problems with CBMCBM

Discharge water at up to 100 gallon Discharge water at up to 100 gallon per minute per well. (15,000-20,000 per minute per well. (15,000-20,000 wells)wells)

Discharge water is more Discharge water is more ““saltysalty”” than than normal and can cause significant soil normal and can cause significant soil damage.damage.

New roads and power lines to get to New roads and power lines to get to the wellsthe wells

Large loud compressors.Large loud compressors.

CBM Discharge PoolsCBM Discharge Pools

Should Coal Bed Methane Should Coal Bed Methane development be allowed on development be allowed on

public lands? public lands?

1.1. YesYes

2.2. NoNo